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4 Ways to Fix Unable to Clear History in Safari for iPhone

iphone won't clear safari history

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides for Android, iOS, and Windows. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he's a disciplined footfall fan and loves international travel with his wife.

  • Clearing your Safari browsing history can help erase your online activities, free up space, and troubleshoot temporary browser-related issues.
  • Temporary glitches, Screen Time restrictions, and persistent cookies are among the reasons you may encounter difficulties clearing your Safari history on your iPhone.
  • Consider restarting your iPhone to see if that resolves the issue.

Fix 1: Disable Web Content Restrictions

The Screen Time feature on your iPhone lets you apply content restrictions and block inappropriate websites . If you’ve previously enabled this feature, you may run into problems while clearing your Safari history. Hence, it’s best to remove any web content restrictions on your iPhone.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and tap on Screen Time .

Step 2: Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and select Content Restrictions from the following menu.

Screen Time on iPhone

Step 3: Tap on Web Content and select the Unrestricted option.

Web Content on iPhone

Fix 2: Disable iCloud Sync for Safari

Enabling iCloud sync for Safari allows you to sync your browsing history, bookmarks, open tabs, and other data across your Apple devices. However, this sync feature can sometimes cause conflicts with Safari and hinder your ability to clear your browsing history.

To avoid this, temporarily disable iCloud sync for Safari using these steps:

Step 1: Open the Settings app, tap your Apple ID at the top, and select iCloud .

Apple ID on iPhone

Step 2: Under Apps Using iCloud, select the Show All option. Turn off the toggle for Safari .

Apps Using iCloud on iPhone

Fix 3: Temporarily Block Cookies in Safari

Safari saves cookies to remember your preferences, keep you logged in to websites, and improve your browsing experience. However, certain persistent cookies, specifically designed to remain on your device, may interfere with clearing your browsing data. To check for this, temporarily block cookies in Safari.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and scroll down to tap on Safari .

Step 2: Under Privacy & Security , turn on the toggle for Block All Cookies . Select Block All to confirm.

Safari Settings Menu on iPhone

Fix 4: Reset Your iPhone

If you still can’t clear your browsing history in Safari, try resetting your iPhone . This will restore your iPhone’s settings to default without affecting your personal data. Here’s how to do it.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on General .

Step 2: Scroll down to the bottom of the page and select Transfer or Reset iPhone .

General Settings on iPhone

Step 3: Tap Reset and select Reset All Settings from the menu. Enter your iPhone’s passcode when prompted and follow the on-screen instructions.

Reset iPhone

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Last updated on 30 April, 2024

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Fixed: Can’t Clear History in Safari on iPhone & iPad

iphone won't clear safari history

Clearing your browsing history in Safari has many benefits, such as protecting your personal information and freeing up space to keep the browser running smoothly. However, you might have noticed that the Clear History and Website Data button is grayed out or that some websites are still there after your attempt. If you are wondering why you can't delete your Safari history, don't worry! We will explain why and provide solutions to fix the problem.

Disable Content & Privacy Restrictions

Unsync safari over icloud, delete all items in safari reading list, block cookies, restart, reset, or restore.

Content & Privacy Restrictions is a feature that sets up age limits and protects children from inappropriate content. This feature can prevent you from deleting your browsing data in Safari. Please read our article about Content & Privacy Restrictions . 

With iCloud, your browsing history is synced across all your Apple devices. As a result, it can occasionally lead to items reappearing in the browsing history of your iPhone or iPad. Here's how to stop Safari from syncing over iCloud.

iPhone Life

If the tips mentioned above don't solve the issue, you will need to use basic troubleshooting solutions. First, restart your device. If that fails, reset your settings, and if that also fails, restore the device to factory settings. For reference, read our article that will guide you on how to do these basic troubleshooting solutions . 

If you found this article helpful, you may enjoy other troubleshooting articles, like what to do if your Apple Watch steps are not accurate , and what to do when iPhone calls are going straight to voicemail . 

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iphone won't clear safari history

How to clear Safari browsing history on iPhone and iPad

Clear Safari browsing history on iPhone and iPad in a few simple steps

iPhone screen showing the Safari app icon in the center

You'll definitely want to know how to clear Safari browsing history on iPhone and iPad . Know how to delete browsing history is part of basic user operation on all your devices, and is especially if you share devices with others. 

Luckily, deleting browsing history on Safari is easy and can be done in just a few taps, and is the same on iOS and iPadOS, so whether you're using an iPhone 15 Pro or an iPad Air , these steps will apply.

Remember, though, that deleting your browsing history only stops your activity being visible on that device. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) will still be able to see the webpages you have visited. If you want to stop that, for ultimate privacy, you'll need to use one of the best VPN services .

The following screenshots were taken on an iPhone running iOS 17 . If you aren't running the latest version of your device's OS, we can show you how to update an iPhone or how to update an iPad .

  • In Safari, tap the book icon
  • Go to the history tab (clock)
  • Select how far back to clear

Read on to see full illustrated instructions.

1. In Safari, tap the book icon

A screenshot showing how to delete browsing history on Safari for iPhone and iPad.

Firstly, open Safari and tap the book icon in the bottom bar.

2. Select the history tab (clock icon) and tap Clear

A screenshot showing how to delete browsing history on Safari for iPhone and iPad.

Now select the history tab (clock icon) and tap Clear at the bottom.

3. Select how far back to clear and tap Delete

A screenshot showing how to delete browsing history on Safari for iPhone and iPad.

Now choose how far back you'd like to delete : last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all time.

If you like, you can toggle on Close All Tabs , which will close every open tab that isn't in a tab group (we can show you how to use tab groups if you aren't sure).

Finally, when you're happy, hit Delete .

A screenshot showing empty browsing history on Safari for iPhone

As you can see in the screenshot above, if you now go back to the history tab, your history will have been deleted.

For more iPhone tutorials, check out our guides on how to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone , how to clear RAM on iPhone , how to delete multiple contacts on iPhone and how to rearrange the iOS 17 Messages '+' menu .

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How to clear browsing history on Safari on iPhone or Mac

William Gallagher's Avatar

You can clear your Safari browsing history on both iOS and Mac

iphone won't clear safari history

As tracking goes, Safari keeping your browsing history is less about privacy-busting security and more about just being useful. It's your history that means Safari remembers where to go to when you choose forward and back within a site, for instance.

It's also how Safari is able to offer you a list of sites that you regularly go to, on account of how handy it is to be able to back to them with a click. History also does keep things you may not expect, though, such as a list of items you've downloaded.

If you don't want that, though, or you're just fed up of Safari going to site addresses you haven't looked at in years, you can wipe the whole browsing history.

On a Mac, you can also wipe, for instance, just the last hour's browsing history. So if you share Safari and it's someone's special birthday coming up, you can avoid them inadvertently finding out you plan to surprise them with dance lessons.

Go to History, Clear History, and then choose how far back you want your browsing cleared

How to clear search history on Safari on Mac

  • In Safari, choose the History menu
  • Select Clear History from the very bottom of the menu
  • In the dialog box that appears, choose from clearing the last hour , today , today and yesterday , or all history
  • Click on Clear History

Alternatively, within Safari you can press Command-Y and the current page will be replaced by a history list. There's a Clear History... button toward the top right.

Clicking on that gives you exactly the same dialog about choosing how far back you want to clear your browsing history. But this page does also give you one extra option — the ability to delete one specific item.

How to clear one item from Safari search history on Mac

  • In Safari, press Command-Y
  • From the long list, click once on a history item to select it
  • Right-click to bring up a menu, then choose Delete

Alternatively, if you select one, two, or more items in the history list, you can then press the Delete key to remove them all.

You can remove your takeaway habits from Safari, we're not judging you.

That kind of precision removal is only possible on your Mac, not on iOS . However, whether it's precision or wholesale clearing of your history, though, there is a way to replicate it on iOS.

If you have set iCloud to share your Safari history, then just doing this on your Mac also removes the history from your iPhone, and iPad.

Otherwise, you're stuck with going to your iOS device. And then with clearing the entire history.

How to clear search history on iPhone

  • Go to Settings on your iOS device
  • Tap on Safari
  • Scroll down to Clear History and Website Data
  • Tap that, then tap Clear History and Data to confirm

One important thing to note is that you can't selectively remove, say, today's browsing history on the iPhone or iPad . It's all or nothing, with iOS.

Clearing your Safari history is all or nothing on iOS

What you leave behind

Clearing your history like this does remove the list of sites and pages you've visited. It does mean you can't go back to that site you read last Tuesday, not without remembering what it was and going there yourself.

What it doesn't remove, though, is the information that gets used by something like AutoFill. If you have your address, for instance, and you're used to online forms being filled out with it, you've still got that feature.

You've also still got anything you downloaded. It's purely that Safari won't keep the list of downloads.

Keep up with AppleInsider by downloading the AppleInsider app for iOS, and follow us on YouTube , Twitter @appleinsider and Facebook for live, late-breaking coverage. You can also check out our official Instagram account for exclusive photos.

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It’s easy to clear Safari cache, history and cookies on your iPhone and iPad. This comes in handy when you want to delete some sensitive browsing information, in case you did not use Private Mode. Moreover, it can also help free up some space to keep your browser running efficiently. If Safari is being slow or behaving erratically, you can get rid of data to clear out the load. So let’s see what’s involved.

Why should you clear Safari cache?

  • Cookies can store a range of data, from your login details to your shopping preferences. If they become corrupted or get shared with perpetrators, they can put your information at risk.  
  • Clearing the Safari cache will prevent anyone else from seeing the websites you’ve been visiting and the searches you’ve been performing. If you’re utilizing a shared device or a public Wi-Fi network, this is extremely crucial. 
  • Overall, tips and tricks like this for Safari on your iPhone are simple but keep the data stored in your browser at a minimum and help free up space on your phone.

How to clear cache and history in Safari on iPhone or iPad

  • Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
  • Scroll down and select Safari . 

to clear cache and history in Safari

This procedure will remove all cookies, cache, and history from your iPhone completely. Furthermore, you can prevent the cache from piling up by surfing in the Private Browsing Mode .  

How to delete specific website data from Safari on iPhone or iPad

  • Go to the Settings app → Safari .
  • Scroll down to the bottom and tap Advanced . 

Go to the Settings app, tap Safari, scroll down and tap Advanced, select Website Data

  • Once finalized, tap Done .

To remove data from all websites, tap Remove All Website Data, Remove Now

Clearing data from a particular website ensures the removal of all cookies. If you want, you can even customize Safari to your preference in a few simple steps.  

How to block cookies in Safari on iPhone

  • Under Privacy & Security, toggle on Block All Cookies .

Go to the Settings app, Safari, Under Privacy & Security, toggle on Block All Cookies, Tap Block All

Yes. Clearing Safari cache, history, and cookies will log you out of the websites you are currently logged into.

No. Clearing your Safari cache, history, and cookies will not delete your bookmarks.

Yes. Clearing your Safari cache, history, and cookies will delete any saved passwords you have for websites.

Now, you’re safe…  

Clearing Safari cache, history, and cookies on iPhone can help you to secure your privacy and improve the performance of your device. It is a simple and easy process that only takes a few moments to complete.

Do let me know if you’d want me to cover more such articles. Until next time!

Read more: 

  • How to clear Chrome history, cache, and cookies on iPhone and iPad  
  • How to Fix A Problem Occurred with this Webpage so it was Reloaded on iPhone
  • How to disable Safari on iPhone? Easy ways to do it!
  • How to clear the DNS Cache on an iPhone or iPad

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How to Clear History on an iPhone: 8 Easy Privacy Tricks

Delete your browsing data, cookies, and call history on your iPhone

Last Updated: January 28, 2023 Fact Checked

Safari Browsing History

Chrome browsing history, call history, message history, siri history & data, keyboard autocorrect history, google search history, erasing all data.

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Smith . Kyle Smith is a wikiHow Technology Writer, learning and sharing information about the latest technology. He has presented his research at multiple engineering conferences and is the writer and editor of hundreds of online electronics repair guides. Kyle received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 2,465,946 times. Learn more...

Your iPhone history is usually used to make things easier for you, such as tracking down a website you've visited or finding a call you missed. If you're worried about someone seeing something they shouldn't, you can delete your web browsing and search history, call and message logs, keyboard autocorrect dictionary, Siri interaction data, or even erase everything completely. This wikiHow will show you easy ways to clear your iPhone's history to preserve your privacy.

Things You Should Know

  • To clear your Safari browsing history, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Web Data.
  • To clear your call history, open the Recents area of the Phone app, tap Edit, and then tap Clear.
  • Use the Google app to delete your search history.

Step 1 Open the Settings app icon.

  • In the future, you can use Safari's Private Browsing mode to visit websites without saving them to your history.

Step 2 Scroll down and tap

  • If this button is grayed-out, there's either no history saved, or the option is restricted in Screen Time . You can reenable Clear History and Website Data in Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions Web Content by disabling all website restrictions.

Step 4 Confirm that you want to delete the history.

  • Your AutoFill information (e.g., contact info and saved credit cards) will not be deleted.
  • Alternatively, you can delete the cookies without clearing your history. Navigate to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data . Select Remove All Website Data .

Step 1 Open the Chrome app.

  • If you don't want Chrome to add the websites you visit to your history, you can browse privately in incognito mode .

Step 2 Tap the Menu button (⋮).

  • Note that this will delete the Google Chrome browsing data for any synced devices as well.

Step 1 Open the Phone app icon.

  • In addition to clearing your entire call history, you can also delete individual received or sent phone calls from your call log.

Step 2 Tap the Recents tab.

  • If you just want to delete a single entry instead of clearing your entire call log, tap the red minus sign next to the call you want to clear.

Step 1 Open the Messages app icon.

  • If you're signed in to another device, such as an iPad or Mac, using the same Apple ID, your iMessage history will be cleared from that device as well.

Step 6 Change your message history settings.

  • Open the Settings app.
  • Select Messages .
  • Tap Keep Messages .
  • Select how long you want to store messages for. This will automatically delete messages that are older than the new setting.

Step 1 Open the Settings app icon.

  • For example, if you use iCloud to sync your iMessages (the default option), those messages will reappear on your iPhone after you sign back in with your Apple ID after erasing your phone.

Step 2 Open the Settings app icon.

  • You may need to enter your Apple ID password or iPhone passcode.
  • This will restore your device to the factory settings, deleting all of the information and settings.

Step 6 Set up your iPhone.

Community Q&A

Community Answer

You Might Also Like

Delete Text Messages From an iPhone

  • ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201265
  • ↑ https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2392709?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS
  • ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210713
  • ↑ https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/6096136?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS&oco=0

About This Article

Kyle Smith

1. Open Settings . 2. Tap Safari . 3. Tap Clear History and Website Data . 4. Confirm deletion. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Clear Safari Profile Web History on iPhone

In iOS 17 , Apple has increased the options available for clearing Safari's web history and website data. You can even clear Safari's cache for a specific Safari profile. Keep reading to learn how it works.

iOS 17 General Safari Feature

If a site you regularly frequent has elements that have stopped working, or if a site has stopped loading completely, there may be a conflict between an older version of it that Safari has cached and a newer one. Or perhaps you simply want to protect your privacy by wiping the slate clean and removing all the data associated with websites you've visited.

With ‌iOS 17‌, Apple doesn't just let you clear Safari's history and website data for a specific timeframe. You can also clear the cache for a specific Safari Profile. (Profiles are is designed to help separate your browsing sessions into things like Work, School, or Personal: For more on how to use Profiles, click this link .)

How to Clear Safari Cache

Here's how to clear Safari history and website data on iPhones running ‌iOS 17‌, and iPads running iPadOS 17 .

  • Open the Settings app.
  • Scroll down and tap Safari .
  • Tap Clear History and Website Data in blue.
  • Choose a timeframe in which to clear your history: Last hour , Today , Today and yesterday , or All history .
  • Choose a specific profile to clear from the list, or check All Profiles .
  • To close all open tabs within your timeframe and profile(s), toggle on the switch next to Close All Tabs .
  • Tap Clear History , then confirm when prompted.

settings

That's all you need to do. The next time you open the associated profile(s), you should notice that all web history for the chosen timeframe will be gone.

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How to view and clear your web browsing history in Safari on iPhone or iPad

Easily wipe your browsing history in Apple's Safari web browser in seconds.

iPhone 13 mini in hand

How to find your web-browsing history

How to clear your web browsing history.

Clearing your browsing history on iPhone and iPad in Safari has been a straightforward affair for years now.

Sometimes, you may want a fresh start with your web browsing — perhaps to get rid of some history that may bring up a memory you'd rather forget as you type in a website URL in the address bar.

Apple makes this feature very easy to access on both the iPhone and iPad by offering two ways to clear your history. So with this in mind, here's how you can do just that and make a fresh start in Safari .

Viewing your web history in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 is very easy to do — and it's all done from Safari.

  • In Safari, tap the Bookmarks button in the toolbar that's below the address bar.
  • Tap the History icon in the upper right corner. Here, you can view your entire web history.

To search for bookmarks, tap the Bookmarks button in the toolbar at the bottom of the app, then select the Bookmark icon.

  • Use the History search bar to find previously viewed pages.

To find History, tap the History menu. Then use the search to find previously viewed information.

If the time calls to wipe most or all of your web browsing history in Safari, here's how to do it on both iPhone and iPad.

To note, the below steps will be the same if you attempt to wipe your web browsing history on an iPhone 15 Pro Max , and an iPad Mini 6 for example.

  • In Safari, tap the Bookmarks button.
  • Select the History icon in the upper right corner.
  • Tap Clear and select how much history you'd like to clear: the last hour, the last day, 48 hours' worth, or all recorded history.

Safari iOS 17 Clear web history

One more thing… A feature no one talks about

Privacy on the web matters more than ever in these modern times. Websites store the pages you click on, especially when you sign into a page that can contain personal information about you.

Master your iPhone in minutes

iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!

It's great to have a feature like this in Safari — but it would be good to have this automated. To tell Apple's web browser to automatically clear history after 24 hours would be very useful, as you wouldn't leave a trail behind.

Regardless, it's still a good feature, and one you should use every week.

Daryl Baxter

Daryl is iMore's Features Editor, overseeing long-form and in-depth articles and op-eds. Daryl loves using his experience as both a journalist and Apple fan to tell stories about Apple's products and its community, from the apps we use everyday to the products that have been long forgotten in the Cupertino archives.

Previously Software & Downloads Writer at TechRadar, and Deputy Editor at StealthOptional, he's also written a book, ' The Making of Tomb Raider ', which tells the story of the beginnings of Lara Croft and the series' early development. He's also written for many other publications including WIRED, MacFormat, Bloody Disgusting, VGC, GamesRadar, Nintendo Life, VRV Blog, The Loop Magazine, SUPER JUMP, Gizmodo, Film Stories, TopTenReviews, Miketendo64 and Daily Star.

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iphone won't clear safari history

Clear the history, cache and cookies from Safari on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

Find out how to delete your history, cookies and cache in Settings.

Delete your history, cache and cookies

Clear your cookies and the cache, but keep your history

Delete a website from your history, block cookies, use content blockers, delete history, cache and cookies.

Go to Settings > Safari.

Tap Clear History and Website Data.

ios-17-iphone-14-pro-settings-safari-clear-history-and-website-data

Clearing your history, cookies and browsing data from Safari won't change your AutoFill information.

When there’s no history or website data to be cleared, the button to clear it will turn grey. The button may also be grey if you have web content restrictions set up under Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time .

To visit sites without leaving history, turn Private Browsing on .

Go to Settings > Safari > Advanced > Website Data.

Tap Remove All Website Data.

When there’s no website data to be cleared, the button to clear it will turn grey. The button may also be grey if you have web content restrictions set up under Content & Privacy Restrictions in Screen Time .

Open the Safari app.

Bookmarks button

Tap the Edit button, then select the website(s) that you want to delete from your history.

Tap the Delete button.

A cookie is a piece of data that a site puts on your device so that site can remember you when you visit again.

To block cookies:

Go to Settings > Safari > Advanced.

Turn on Block All Cookies.

ios-17-iphone-14-pro-settings-safari-block-all-cookies

If you block cookies, some web pages may not work. Here are some examples:

You'll likely not be able to sign in to a site even when using your correct user name and password.

You may see a message that cookies are required or that your browser's cookies are turned off.

Some features on a site may not work.

Content blockers are third-party apps and extensions that let Safari block cookies, images, resources, pop-ups and other content.

To get a content blocker:

Download a content blocking app from the App Store.

Tap Settings > Safari > Extensions.

Tap to turn on a listed content blocker.

You can use more than one content blocker. If you need help, contact the app developer .

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Contact the vendor for additional information.

iphone won't clear safari history

Related topics

iphone won't clear safari history

Contact Apple Support

Need more help? Save time by starting your support request online and we'll connect you to an expert.

Why Can’t I Clear My History on Safari? Solutions and Answers

Nick deCourville

  • Safari allows you to clear your history for a certain length of time, or you can clear the whole thing.
  • You may just need to restart your device to clear your history.
  • Remember that the steps for iPhone and iPad will be roughly the same. 

Cant Clear Safari History November 2023 Featured

If you’re having issues because you can’t clear your Safari history, know that a solution isn’t too far behind. I love using Safari for a great browsing experience, but I was recently unable to clear my history, which was giving me some problems. Fortunately, I discovered a solution to my problem. Let’s take a look at some troubleshooting steps and solutions. 

Why Is My Clear History Button Grey?

If your Clear History button is grey, the most likely reason is that you do not have any History to clear. However, you may also be experiencing a grey Clear History button due to certain Content & Privacy Restrictions within Screen Time being enabled. You can check on iPhone via Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps and ensure that Safari is enabled. Note, however, that this will require your password.

On Mac, you can disable Screen Time via System Settings > Screen Time>  Content & Privacy > Content Restrictions . Ensure Access to Web Content is set to  Unrestricted.  Of course, if you didn’t set up Screen Time in the first place, this likely isn’t your issue. Keep reading for further solutions.

How Do I Clear My Safari History and Cache?

1. how to clear your safari browser history.

If you need to clear your Safari history, you can check out our full guide here . However, note that on iOS, clearing your history is as easy as going to Settings >  Safari > Clear History and Website Data . For Mac, all you need to do is open Safari and select History > Clear History from the menu bar. With both Mac and iOS you are able to choose how much of your history you delete based on time. 

2. Disable iCloud Sync for Safari

If you’re still having issues clearing your Safari browsing history, it may just be that you need to disable iCloud sync for Safari. This default option shares your history and your reading lists across all your Apple devices. It may be the case that some history or content did not sync properly. 

Disable iCloud Sync iOS

Time needed:  2 minutes

If you need to disable iCloud Sync on iOS, follow these steps.

Cant Clear Safari History Tap Your Name

Disable iCloud Sync macOS

  • From the Apple Menu, go to System Settings .
  • Select [Your Name] .

Cant Clear History Safari Select iCloud

3. Reset Network Settings (iOS Only)

If you are still looking for an effective solution to your clear history issue, you may want to consider resetting your network settings. 

  • Go to the Settings app. 

Cant Clear History Safari Tap General

4. Delete History Manually (Mac Only)

If you need to clear your Safari history on Mac and are having problems, remember you can delete your history manually. 

Cant Clear History Safari Tap Go To Folder

  • While holding down the Command key, select the following items: History.db , History.db-lock , History.db.shm and History.db.wal . 

Cant Clear History Safari Select Move to Trash

  • Empty your Trash. 

Why Can’t I Clear History in Safari?

The most likely reason that you’re unable to clear your Safari history is that there is no history left to clear. However, if you’re having issues, look at basic things, such as restarting your Apple device or ensuring that Screen Time restrictions are not preventing you from clearing your history. You may also want to consider that iCloud Sync may prevent you from properly clearing your history. 

Being able to clear your entire history from Safari is incredibly useful. However, it’s only useful if it’s working correctly. Fortunately, solutions for your history clearing problems are rather easy, so there’s little to worry about. Not clearing your history can be a common issue for many users. However, a comprehensive solution is available.

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  • Nick deCourville

iphone won't clear safari history

How-To Geek

How to delete specific website history from safari on iphone or ipad.

Forgot to enable Private Browsing mode on Safari? Don't nuke your entire history, prune specific sites instead.

Quick Links

How to remove websites from safari history, how to delete specific website data, don't forget about private browsing mode.

It's not always convenient to delete your entire history, but you can instead choose to delete specific websites from your history (and the data they leave behind on your device). Here's how to do it in Safari for iPhone and iPad.

Safari will record any websites you visit unless you use Private Browsing . Once a website is in your history it will appear in the URL bar when you start typing a related term. There are all sorts of reasons you may want to prune specific websites, and it's easy to do so.

Open Safari and tap on the "Bookmarks" icon at the bottom of the screen (it looks like an open book).

A pop-up will appear with three tabs for your Bookmarks, Reading List , and History. Tap on the clock icon to see your history.

You can now swipe left on any entry in your history and tap "Delete" to remove it for good.

Rather than scrolling through your entire history of visited websites, you can also search for specific terms or URLs using the on-screen search box . But that's not the only evidence a website may have left behind on your device.

Related: How to Change the Default Search Engine in Safari on iPhone or iPad

Websites leave all sorts of data on your device including cached images and cookies . If you want to remove all signs of a website, it's important to remove website data as well.

Launch Settings and tap on Safari > Advanced > Website Data. This menu may take a little while to load as Safari fetches a full list of website data and estimates how much storage each entry takes up on your device.

You can now follow the same procedure as above by swiping left on any websites you would like to forget about and tapping the "Delete" button that appears.

You can also search for specific websites using the search bar at the top of the screen, or nuke everything using the "Remove All Website Data" button at the bottom of the list.

Note that if you do remove website data (or wipe everything) that there may be some drawbacks like having to log in again or having your shopping cart emptied.

Related: Clearing Your Cookies All the Time Makes the Web More Annoying

You can use Private Browsing mode in Safari at any point to visit a website without it being recorded to your device. To do this, tap on the tab icon in the lower right corner of the screen followed by the number of tabs you have open at the bottom of the screen. From here tap "Private" to switch to a private browsing session.

Note that all tabs in your private browsing session will remain open until you close them , so make sure you close anything that may compromise your privacy.

To get a better handle on your iPhone or iPad's privacy settings, we recommend a periodic iOS privacy check-up .

Related: How to Check and Tighten All Your iPhone's Privacy Settings

Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

>  Learn more

>  Add to your calendar 

auldsport

Disable "clear history" from safari?

I want to disable the "clear history" feature from my iPhone. How can I do this?

I have an iPhone SE. Thanks

iPhone SE (3rd generation)

Posted on Aug 29, 2023 5:06 AM

John Galt

Posted on Aug 29, 2023 9:42 AM

The short answer is it can't be done, but it might help if you were to explain your need to do that. For example, perhaps Private Browsing will meet your requirements: Browse privately in Safari on iPhone - Apple Support

When you use Private Browsing, "Safari won't remember the pages you visit, your search history, or your AutoFill information." — Turn Private Browsing on or off on your iPhone - Apple Support

Similar questions

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Aug 29, 2023 9:42 AM in response to auldsport

Aug 29, 2023 12:16 PM in response to John Galt

I have one device, and it is shared among three. Two of the three are minors and they keep deleting history to hide whatever they are up to and it is screwing up my saved settings on my phone. Here is a silly example - it clears my history from Wordle and I can't see how many 3s I have accumulated :) - I am glad for wordle because that is how it came to my attention. I do not wish to deprive them of any device use, but my entreaties to stop deleting history have gone unheeded. I have limit adult content set up on my phone already, so either it doesn't work or they are hiding something that doesn't count as adult content. Luckily they don't know about private browsing.

Aug 29, 2023 1:28 PM in response to auldsport

auldsport wrote:
I have one device, and it is shared among three.

You are asking for trouble by doing that. Do not share your Apple ID. One person = one Apple ID:

Make sure that each family member has a unique Apple ID - Apple Support

Keep Apple IDs separate from one another. From https://appleid.apple.com/faq:

Can I share an Apple ID with someone else?

Your Apple ID should not be shared with anyone else.

There is no need to deprive anyone of anything. Use Family Sharing: Set up Family Sharing - Apple Support

Aug 29, 2023 3:53 PM in response to John Galt

Oh well, two more devices are not in the cards so they have to share mine for now.

Aug 29, 2023 5:32 PM in response to auldsport

There's alway another birthday coming up.

iphone won't clear safari history

How to clear the cache on your iPhone (and why you should)

How many tabs are open on your mobile browser right now? Go ahead, check -- you might be surprised by what you find.

Americans spend over five hours a day on their smartphones. That's over five hours of your phone potentially accessing, retrieving, and saving cache and cookies, which can negatively impact your iPhone's storage space .

What is cache?

Cache is the temporary storage of some data, like parts of a website from the last time you visited it, for example. Browser cache is content from a website that is stored on your phone during a browser session to help the browser execute faster the next time you visit that page.

Also:  How to clear Google search cache on Android

Cache data can slow down your phone's overall browsing performance, however, since it takes up storage space on your device, so it's good to clear it out regularly. In this article, we mainly focus on clearing web browser cache on an iPhone, but you should know that other types of cache include mobile app cache and CPU cache.

How to clear cache on iPhone

What you'll need: Everything you need to clear your browser cache is within the iPhone's settings app or the Safari app, so grab your iPhone to get started.

Keep in mind that clearing the cache can clear private data, which can close all open tabs in Safari. This is also likely to log you out of all your websites, prompting you to sign in again the next time you open them. 

How do I clear the cache from Chrome on iPhone?

If Google Chrome is your preferred browser, it may have a substantial amount of data stored on your device, which could also slow down performance. 

To clear the cache in Chrome, open the Google Chrome app and follow these steps:

  • Tap  Settings .
  • Go to  Privacy and Security .
  • Select  Clear Browsing Data .
  • Select the time from which to delete the data (if you want to delete all your browsing history, choose All Time ).
  • Go through the items you'd like to delete, like your Browsing History, Cookies and Site Data, Cached Images and Files, Saved Passwords , and Autofill Data.
  • Confirm by tapping  Clear Browsing Data  at the bottom of the screen.
  • Tap Done when you've deleted the Chrome cache.

Also: Apple releases iOS 17.4 with podcast transcripts, new emojis, and EU app store changes

Clearing the browsing and cache data in Google Chrome doesn't close all open tabs, but it will refresh each tab and log you out of websites. Once you tap on one of the tabs you want to access, you'll have to log back in.

How can I browse on Safari without history?

If you're learning how to clear cache on an iPhone, you may also be wondering if there's a way to use Safari without saving any browsing history. You can turn on Private Browsing by following these steps:

  • Open  Safari .
  • Tap on  Tabs .
  • Choose Private .

You can also enable private browsing by going to your iPhone Settings, finding Safari, and toggling on the private option. 

How do I clear my app cache on my iPhone?

To clear the app cache from your iPhone Settings app, you can either delete the app and reinstall it, offload it, or try to clear the cache from within the app. Unfortunately, iOS apps don't have consistent settings across the board that would allow you to clear the cache of every app.

Also: Apple warns: Don't put your wet iPhone in rice. Do this instead

Apps like TikTok and CapCut, for example, have options to Clear Cache within their respective settings. Amazon lets users delete their browsing history, while the Reddit app can clear local history. It all depends on what the app's settings let you do. 

Is "clear cache" the same as offloading?

Not exactly, though app offloading can help if your phone is slowed down by low storage. To offload an app  means to uninstall an app without deleting any documents or data associated with it. 

Also: Apple secures iMessage against threats from the future

To offload an app, go to  Settings , then  General , choose  iPhone Storage  and select the app to offload, then tap  Offload App . If you ever download it again, you'll pick up where you left off for that app.

Are cookies and cache the same thing?

Cookies and cache are not the same. Cookies are data files that websites send to your phone, including things like saved passwords to keep you logged into an account or even the website preferences from the previous time you visited. 

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Though they do sound harmless, cookies can also track how you browse the internet. They monitor patterns in your browsing and search history, even seeing what you clicked on or what your mouse hovered over. Ever made an innocuous search on Amazon only to find ads for it on all the apps you use? Cookies likely made that possible.

Can I block cookies on my iPhone?

While you can block cookies on Safari, the ranks are divided on whether you should. Blocking cookies entirely means that websites won't be able to get information from you, but it also means that some websites may not even work correctly on your browser. A lot of users actually enjoy a more personalized browsing experience, so cookies are a good thing for them.

 If you'd like to block cookies in Safari, follow these steps:

  • Go to  Settings  and select  Safari .
  • Tap on the toggle next to  Block All Cookies .

There are also third-party extensions that help you block cookies and trackers in Google Chrome, like Ghostery and Disconnect .

How do I check iPhone storage?

On an iPhone, Settings can show you what's taking up most of your media storage, like photos, videos, and music. You can also see what each particular app's storage consumption is, which includes temporary data. To view the details of your iPhone's storage space, follow these steps:

  • Go to the iPhone Settings .
  • Tap on General .
  • Select iPhone Storage .
  • Scroll through to find the app you're looking for.
  • Tap on the app to view storage status and options.

Unfortunately, you can't clear your iPhone cache for third-party apps by going into your Settings app, but this gives you a visual of your iPhone's storage and the option to delete or offload apps.

Also: Here's the fastest way to declutter your iPhone and free up Gigabytes of space

When you look at your device's storage space, you'll probably see recommended steps you can take to optimize your iPhone's storage, like offloading unused apps.

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How to clear the cache on your iPhone (and why you should)

iPhone 15: How to Clear Safari History Quickly and Easily

Clearing your Safari history on the iPhone 15 is a quick and straightforward process. Simply head to the Settings app, scroll down to Safari, tap on it, and then select “Clear History and Website Data.” Confirm the action, and voila, your browsing history is gone!

After you complete this action, all the records of your browsing history, cookies, and other website data on your iPhone will be erased. This means that anyone else who uses your phone won’t be able to see which websites you’ve visited.

You can also check out this video about how to clear Safari history on iPhone 15 for more information on this topic.

Introduction

The iPhone 15 is a remarkable gadget that’s become an integral part of our daily lives. From making calls to surfing the web, this device does it all. But have you ever thought about the digital footprints you leave behind while browsing the internet? Your browsing history can reveal a lot about your interests, preferences, and even your location. That’s why knowing how to clear your Safari history is crucial for maintaining your privacy.

You might be wondering why this is important. Well, if you’re someone who values your privacy or simply wants to keep your browsing habits to yourself, clearing your history is a must. It’s also relevant to those who share their devices with others and prefer to keep their internet activity private. Plus, it’s a good practice to clear your history regularly to keep your device running smoothly.

Related: Safari History iPhone: How to See It [2023 Guide]

Step by Step Tutorial on How to Clear Safari History

Before we dive into the steps, let’s understand what we’re trying to achieve here. Clearing your Safari history removes traces of the websites you’ve visited. This can help protect your privacy and also free up some storage space on your device.

Step 1: Open the Settings App

Start by opening the Settings app on your iPhone 15.

In the Settings app, you’ll have access to a variety of options. To clear your browsing history, you need to navigate to the Safari settings.

Step 2: Scroll Down and Tap on Safari

Scroll down until you find Safari and tap on it.

The Safari settings give you control over your web browsing experience, including privacy settings and history.

Step 3: Select “Clear History and Website Data”

Locate and select the “Clear History and Website Data” option.

tap Clear History and Website Data

By tapping on this, you’re just a step away from erasing your browsing history. This action cannot be undone, so make sure you’re ready to clear everything.

Step 4: Confirm the Action

Confirm your choice to clear the history and website data.

Once you confirm, your iPhone will remove all records of your browsing history, cookies, and other website data.

Video About Clearing History

Additional Information

When it comes to managing your digital privacy, clearing your Safari history on the iPhone 15 is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s also a good idea to regularly review your privacy settings and be mindful of the permissions you grant to apps and websites. Remember, the more proactive you are about your digital privacy, the less you’ll have to worry about your personal information being compromised.

Furthermore, consider using private browsing modes like Safari’s Private Browsing when you don’t want your history to be saved at all. This can be handy for one-off searches or when you’re using a shared device. And finally, keep your iPhone’s software up to date to benefit from the latest security features and fixes.

  • Open the Settings app.
  • Tap on Safari.
  • Select “Clear History and Website Data.”
  • Confirm the action to clear the history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does clearing safari history also clear bookmarks.

No, clearing your Safari history will not delete your bookmarks.

Can I recover my browsing history after clearing it?

Once your history is cleared, it cannot be recovered.

Will clearing history log me out of websites?

Yes, you will be logged out from most websites after clearing history and website data.

Can I clear history for a specific time period?

No, clearing history on Safari removes all history; you can’t specify a time period.

Does clearing history affect other devices signed into the same iCloud account?

Yes, if Safari’s iCloud sync is enabled, clearing history will affect all devices signed into the same account.

Keeping your digital life private is crucial in today’s interconnected world, and clearing your Safari history on the iPhone 15 is a step towards that. Not only does this simple act protect your privacy, but it also helps your device run better.

So, whether you’re a privacy enthusiast or just someone who likes to keep things tidy, clearing your Safari history is a smart move. Remember, the digital footprints you leave behind can tell a story you might not want to share, so take control of your data and browse with confidence.

Matthew Burleigh Solve Your Tech

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.

After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.

His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.

Read his full bio here.

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iphone won't clear safari history

Clear your browsing history

You can remove all records that Safari keeps of where you’ve browsed during a period of time you choose. If your Mac and your other devices have the iCloud Safari feature turned on, your browsing history is removed from all of them. Clearing your browsing history in Safari doesn’t clear any browsing histories kept independently by websites you visited.

Open Safari for me

Choose History > Clear History and Website Data, then click the pop-up menu and choose how far back you want your browsing history cleared.

When you clear your history, Safari removes data it saves as a result of your browsing, including:

History of webpages you visited

The back and forward list for open webpages

Top Sites that aren’t marked as permanent

Frequently visited site list

Cookies and website data saved while visiting webpages

Recent searches

Icons for open webpages

Snapshots saved for open webpages

List of items you downloaded (downloaded files aren’t removed)

Websites added for Quick Website Search

Websites that asked to use your location

Websites that asked to send you notifications

Websites with plug-in content you started by clicking a Safari Power Saver notice

Responses to requests to let websites use WebGL

IMAGES

  1. How To Check Safari History

    iphone won't clear safari history

  2. Clear the history and cookies from Safari on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

    iphone won't clear safari history

  3. How to view and clear your browsing history in Safari on iPhone or iPad

    iphone won't clear safari history

  4. How to Clear Safari Cache & History on iPhone?

    iphone won't clear safari history

  5. Clear safari history

    iphone won't clear safari history

  6. How to view Safari history in an iPhone backup

    iphone won't clear safari history

VIDEO

  1. How to Delete/Clear Safari Search History on iPhone Tutorial (2024) Full Guide Simple process

  2. How To Clear Search History on Safari iPhone (Greyed Out?)

  3. How to Clear Safari History on iPhone or iPad

  4. How to view history in safari [easy]

  5. How to Fix Safari Clear History Grayed Out

  6. how to clear safari history on iphone iOS17

COMMENTS

  1. Can't Clear the Browsing History in Safari on Your iPhone or iPad

    How to stop syncing Safari over iCloud on a Mac: On macOS Catalina and later: Go to System Preferences > Apple ID > iCloud. On macOS High Sierra and earlier: Go to System Preferences > iCloud. Untick the box next to Safari. Now open Safari and from the menu bar, go to: Safari > Clear History… > Clear All History.

  2. 4 Ways to Fix Unable to Clear History in Safari for iPhone

    Here's how to do it. Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on General. Step 2: Scroll down to the bottom of the page and select Transfer or Reset iPhone. Step 3: Tap Reset and ...

  3. I can't clear my history on Safari!

    My safari history won't clear I wanted to clear my safari history, as it gets in my nerves when it isn't clear. I went to clear it, however the button is greyed out, and I can't press it. When I go to settings the clear history button doesn't work either. Please help.

  4. Clear the history, cache, and cookies from Safari on your iPhone, iPad

    Clear cookies and cache, but keep your history. Delete a website from your history. Block cookies. Use content blockers. Delete history, cache, and cookies. Go to Settings > Safari. Tap Clear History and Website Data. Clearing your history, cookies, and browsing data from Safari won't change your AutoFill information. When there's no history or ...

  5. Fixed: Can't Clear History in Safari on iPhone & iPad

    Tap your Apple ID. Tap iCloud. You may need to tap Show All if Safari does not appear on this screen. Turn off Safari. Tap Keep on My iPhone. Tap Apple ID. Tap Settings. Tap Safari. Tap Clear History and Website Data.

  6. Safari Clear History and Data grayed out on iPhone? 4 Fixes!

    Disable Screen Time Restrictions. Restart your iPhone. Other workarounds to fix Safari Clear History option grayed out. Reset All Settings on iPhone. 1. Disable Screen Time Restrictions. If you use Screen Time to enable limited web access, the option for Clear History and Website Data will be grayed out.

  7. How to clear Safari browsing history on iPhone and iPad

    In Safari, tap the book icon. Firstly, open Safari and tap the book icon in the bottom bar. 2. Select the history tab (clock icon) and tap Clear. Now select the history tab (clock icon) and tap ...

  8. How to Clear Recent History in Safari on iPhone and iPad

    On an iPhone, it's at the bottom of the screen. In the pop-up that appears (on the left side of the screen on iPad and over the whole screen on iPhone), tap the History tab (which looks like a clock face), and then tap the "Clear" button. (Don't worry. It won't clear anything yet.) After you tap "Clear," another pop-up will give you yet another ...

  9. How to clear browsing history on Safari on iPhone or Mac

    In Safari, choose the History menu. Select Clear History from the very bottom of the menu. In the dialog box that appears, choose from clearing the last hour, today, today and yesterday, or all ...

  10. How to clear Safari cache, history and cookies on iPhone or iPad

    Scroll down and select Safari . Scroll down the menu and tap Clear History and Website Data . Tap Clear History and Data → select Close All Tabs. This procedure will remove all cookies, cache, and history from your iPhone completely. Furthermore, you can prevent the cache from piling up by surfing in the Private Browsing Mode .

  11. Clear your cache on iPhone

    Open the Safari app on your iPhone. Tap , tap , then tap Clear. Below Clear Timeframe, choose how much of your browsing history to clear. Note: If you have Safari profiles set up, select a profile to clear only the history of that profile, or select All Profiles. Tap Clear History. Learn how to erase your browsing history to clear the cache in ...

  12. My search history on safari won't clear I…

    Delete history, cache, and cookies. To clear your history and cookies, go to Settings > Safari, and tap Clear History and Website Data. Clearing your history, cookies, and browsing data from Safari won't change your AutoFill information. PS: Perhaps another Apple product nearby or by iCloud can share this History.

  13. How to Clear History on an iPhone: Safari, Chrome, and More

    Things You Should Know. To clear your Safari browsing history, go to Settings > Safari > Clear History and Web Data. To clear your call history, open the Recents area of the Phone app, tap Edit, and then tap Clear. Use the Google app to delete your search history. Method 1.

  14. How to Clear Safari Profile Web History on iPhone

    Open the Settings app. Scroll down and tap Safari. Tap Clear History and Website Data in blue. Choose a timeframe in which to clear your history: Last hour, Today, Today and yesterday, or All ...

  15. How to view and clear your web browsing history in Safari on iPhone or

    In Safari, tap the Bookmarks button. Select the History icon in the upper right corner. Tap Clear and select how much history you'd like to clear: the last hour, the last day, 48 hours' worth, or all recorded history. To clear History, tap the Bookmarks button, then choose the History icon.

  16. Clear the history, cache and cookies from Safari on your iPhone, iPad

    Clear your cookies and the cache, but keep your history. Delete a website from your history. Block cookies. Use content blockers. Delete history, cache and cookies. Go to Settings > Safari. Tap Clear History and Website Data. Clearing your history, cookies and browsing data from Safari won't change your AutoFill information. When there's no ...

  17. How to clear history on iPhone or iPad

    Tap More (look for the icon with three gray dots) Then tap History in the pop-up menu. After that, tap Clear Browsing Data on the bottom left side of the screen. Select Browsing History and set the Time range (Last hour, last 24 hours, last 7 days, etc.) Go back and tap Clear Browsing Data at the bottom of the screen.

  18. Why Can't I Clear My History on Safari? Solutions and Answers

    Tap Reset. Select Reset Network Settings and confirm your decision. 4. Delete History Manually (Mac Only) If you need to clear your Safari history on Mac and are having problems, remember you can ...

  19. How to Delete Specific Website History From Safari on iPhone or iPad

    Open Safari and tap on the "Bookmarks" icon at the bottom of the screen (it looks like an open book). A pop-up will appear with three tabs for your Bookmarks, Reading List, and History. Tap on the clock icon to see your history. You can now swipe left on any entry in your history and tap "Delete" to remove it for good.

  20. iOS 17

    Hop into Settings: Tap on that silver cog icon commonly found on your home screen. That's the "Settings" app. Once inside, scroll down until you see the "Safari" option, and give that a tap. Seek out the Clearing Option: Once you're in the Safari settings, you'll see an option that says "Clear History and Website Data.".

  21. Disable "clear history" from safari?

    The short answer is it can't be done, but it might help if you were to explain your need to do that. For example, perhaps Private Browsing will meet your requirements: Browse privately in Safari on iPhone - Apple Support. When you use Private Browsing, "Safari won't remember the pages you visit, your search history, or your AutoFill information."

  22. How to clear the cache on your iPhone (and why you should)

    To view the details of your iPhone's storage space, follow these steps: Go to the iPhone Settings. Tap on General. Select iPhone Storage. Scroll through to find the app you're looking for. Tap on ...

  23. iPhone 15: How to Clear Safari History Quickly and Easily

    Step 1: Open the Settings App. Start by opening the Settings app on your iPhone 15. In the Settings app, you'll have access to a variety of options. To clear your browsing history, you need to navigate to the Safari settings.

  24. Clear your Safari browsing history

    Choose History > Clear History and Website Data, then click the pop-up menu and choose how far back you want your browsing history cleared. When you clear your history, Safari removes data it saves as a result of your browsing, including: Remove all records that Safari keeps of where you've browsed during a period of time you choose.